PEA RIDGE — Eight candidates were approved for interviews for superintendent of Pea Ridge Schools.
Approval came during the regular School Board meeting on Feb. 14.
Dr. Paul Hewitt presented 14 names to the board, listing the first eight as candidates and the next six as alternates in case any of the first eight should withdraw or be withdrawn.
Stating he was not interested in interviewing any of the six alternates, School Board member Rick Webb said “Forget the semifinalists.”
“I’d like to have a pool of at least six,” board president Joshua Ramsey said.
After discussion, the board agreed they would interview from the top eight unless the pool fell to less than four.
“This alternate list is not appealing to me. I recognize some names. I’m not comfortable withthis,” Webb said.
Interviews were previously scheduled for the weekend of March 9-11, but board members decided to move the dates up to March 2-4. Hewitt asked each board member to invite a member from the community to sit on the interview panel in addition to members of the school staff, administration staff, classified staff and other civic leaders.
Hewitt said he had allotted one hour per candidate for interviews. “It will be a very intense two days,” Hewitt said.
“Why an hour?
We’ve always done it in 30 minutes,” Webb said. “I kinda figured we’d do it like we’ve always done it.... I’ll be honest. I’m not gonna take two days off work in a row.”
In order to have him present, the board agreed to begin interviews late Friday and only interview three candidates Friday evening and the other five on Saturday.
Hewitt said the candidates would be interviewed by the board members after they speak to the committee and that the board would select a finalist after all of the interviews.
News, Pages 1 on 02/22/2012